Hello all! Soooo as crunch time draws near I wanted some more thoughts on this looming life decision. I want to work on the West Coast eventually, but paying sticker at Berkeley for a public institution that is seriously being hit by budget cuts just doesn't seem right. On top of that, I've heard that top east coast schools still have great placement on the west coast, and that in fact employers actually prefer to diversify their incoming associates rather than take on a class of UCB grads. I'm just not convinced that the UCB name is worth the extra money, and I've heard that the atmosphere at the school is far less collegial (aka more cut throat) than at the other 2 schools.

rachelburns wrote:Hello all! Soooo as crunch time draws near I wanted some more thoughts on this looming life decision. I want to work on the West Coast eventually, but paying sticker at Berkeley for a public institution that is seriously being hit by budget cuts just doesn't seem right. On top of that, I've heard that top east coast schools still have great placement on the west coast, and that in fact employers actually prefer to diversify their incoming associates rather than take on a class of UCB grads. I'm just not convinced that the UCB name is worth the extra money, and I've heard that the atmosphere at the school is far less collegial (aka more cut throat) than at the other 2 schools.

Opinions please!

You don't want to pay a lot for a public institution because of budget cuts that will not affect your quality of life? Also, UCB with no grades more cutthroat than Penn and UVA with grades and preselect? I'm a UVA troll and all, but this matter could have been resolved with 75k>0k and QOL at the schools being a wash.

From what I can tell, a significant number of my fellow students are from California and want to end up back there. None of them are worried about Penn's placement in Cali. If you have a solid connection to the state/solid reason to be there, you should be able to get in.

What are you looking for? If you want a city atmosphere surrounded by nerdy prestige whores, then go to Penn, if you want to be surrounded by awesome people that are much more well rounded and better looking than any other Top 10 law school, go to UVA.

jnorsky wrote:What are you looking for? If you want a city atmosphere surrounded by nerdy prestige whores, then go to Penn, if you want to be surrounded by [strike]awesome people that are much more well rounded and better looking[/strike]more beer-swilling, softball-playing frat kids than any other Top 10 law school, go to UVA.

jnorsky wrote:What are you looking for? If you want a city atmosphere surrounded by nerdy prestige whores, then go to Penn, if you want to be surrounded by awesome people that are much more well rounded and better looking than any other Top 10 law school, go to UVA.

This made me LOL

Is there really no difference in prestigue between UVA and Penn from an employers prospect?

jnorsky wrote:What are you looking for? If you want a city atmosphere surrounded by nerdy prestige whores, then go to Penn, if you want to be surrounded by awesome people that are much more well rounded and better looking than any other Top 10 law school, go to UVA.

jnorsky wrote:What are you looking for? If you want a city atmosphere surrounded by nerdy prestige whores, then go to Penn, if you want to be surrounded by awesome people that are much more well rounded and better looking than any other Top 10 law school, go to UVA.

This made me LOL

Is there really no difference in prestigue between UVA and Penn from an employers prospect?

jnorsky wrote:What are you looking for? If you want a city atmosphere surrounded by nerdy prestige whores, then go to Penn, if you want to be surrounded by awesome people that are much more well rounded and better looking than any other Top 10 law school, go to UVA.

This made me LOL

Is there really no difference in prestigue between UVA and Penn from an employers prospect?

jnorsky wrote:What are you looking for? If you want a city atmosphere surrounded by nerdy prestige whores, then go to Penn, if you want to be surrounded by awesome people that are much more well rounded and better looking than any other Top 10 law school, go to UVA.

This made me LOL

Is there really no difference in prestigue between UVA and Penn from an employers prospect?